Apples blossom in Spring…

If you’ve been down to the stables lately, you’ll have noticed a few changes and new faces.

We’re delighted to introduce you to Gateridge Appleblossom, our new Suffolk Punch horse which is on loan to us from Gateridge Suffolks in Northamptonshire.

As regulars to Sacrewell know, we’re passionate about working with farmers to preserve rare breeds, especially those from the region.

Suffolk Punch horses were bred in the East of England as working horses-they worked the land for years but went out of favour when tractors took over manual and horse-powered labour. Their numbers declined so rapidly after the Second World War that in 1966, only nine foals were registered in the UK.

They’re currently classed as ‘critical’ by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, meaning there are fewer than 300 horses left and numbers are declining.

We’ll be working with Gateridge and the Suffolk Punch Trust to educate visitors about the breed and show exactly what they can do.